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Clifford Lo

Brian Wong

A suspected airgun attack on a Hong Kong court building where the city’s largest national security case is being heard has sparked a police deployment of at least three vehicles to guard part of a nearby flyover.
Police ramped up security after what was thought to be an airgun pellet fired from a moving vehicle on an elevated section of the West Kowloon Corridor broke a large window at the building at lunchtime on Wednesday.
The flyover is about 15 metres (49 feet) away from West Kowloon Court on Tung Chau Street in Sham Shui Po.
A source said the flyover was not closed because it would have caused serious congestion in the area.

One of the police vehicles was parked on the Tsim Sha Tsui-bound lane of the flyover near the court on Thursday morning.
A “Traffic Enforcement Camera in Action” sign was set up behind the vehicle.
The other two police vehicles were stationed on the Kwai Chung-bound lane of the flyover.
The force said early investigations suggested the pellet was fired from the flyover at about 1.17pm on Wednesday and broke a two-by-five-metre window.
Dozens of officers, some using metal detectors, combed the area on Wednesday night, but no airgun pellets or related items were found at the scene.
‘Lethal weapon’: prosecutors take aim at 47 in Hong Kong national security trial
Police are treating the case as criminal damage. Detectives from the organised crime and triad bureau are investigating. No arrests have been made yet.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok on Wednesday said he was concerned by the incident and condemned violent acts that disrupted the administration of justice.
He vowed to pursue the culprits and accused them of disrupting social order and undermining the rule of law.
The attack took place as hundreds of officers were mobilised to guard inside and outside the court building, as well as surrounding areas.
2 Hong Kong opposition figures to plead guilty to charges over unofficial poll
The Post learned that 700 plain-clothes and uniformed officers, including personnel from the force’s Counter Terrorism Response Unit, have been deployed to the court every day since the trial began on Monday.
Roadblocks were also set up to ensure smooth traffic flow as some defendants were transported to the court from the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.
A Post photographer arrived at the courts before 8am on Thursday and saw more than 10 police vehicles parked on Tung Chau Street while more than 100 law enforcement officers patrolled the area.
A roadblock was also set up at nearby Tonkin Street West.

About 60 people queued up outside the court building to secure a seat in the courtroom on the fourth day of proceedings against 16 of the 47 opposition figures who are charged with subversion in connection with their roles in an unofficial Legislative Council primary election in 2020. The remaining 31 defendants have either pleaded guilty or told the court they will do so when their pleas are formally taken.
Members of the public were admitted to the court building just before 8.15am.
The prosecution on Thursday continued its opening speech outlining the allegedly offensive conduct and statements made by some of the accused.
Prosecutor Anthony Chau Tin-hang said many primary candidates charged in the case had signed an online declaration pledging to paralyse the government once they won a seat in Legco.
Airgun pellet fired at Hong Kong court hearing national security trial of 47
Ex-lawmakers Lam Cheuk-ting and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, despite shunning the declaration, had also shared their peers’ “common criminal objectives of resisting against the authorities”, the court heard.
Chau highlighted a set of notes seized from Lam’s residence which suggested the politician “completely agreed with the subversive ideology” of “Liberate Hong Kong: revolution of our times” – a popular rallying cry during the 2019 anti-government protests.
The court also heard that Leung “blatantly advocated his firm belief in resistance within Legco” during a forum in the lead-up to the primary election.
The court will settle disputes regarding the admissibility of certain evidence on Friday. Prosecutors are expected to call their first witness, former legislator and co-organiser of the primary Au Nok-hin, next week.
Additional reporting by Oscar Liu


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Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong 47: suspected airgun attack on court where group faces subversion charges triggers huge police response

A large window at West Kowloon Court after it was hit by what is thought to have been an airgun pellet. Photo:  Dickson Lee

The damaged window at the West Kowloon Court building in Sham Shui Po is inspected. Photo: Dickson Lee

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam has expressed concern over suspected airgun attack on court. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong 47: suspected airgun pellet shatters court window on third day of trial of opposition figures

A window at West Kowloon Court was shattered on the third day of a trial of 47 opposition figures. Photo: Handout

Police investigate outside West Kowloon Court where a window was shattered at about 1.30pm. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong’s stability and livelihood could have been ‘gravely affected’ by 2020 unofficial primary scheme, court hears

People line up outside the West Kowloon Court on the second day of the hearing of the case involving the Legco primary. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

(L-R) former lawmaker Au Nok-hin, legal academic Benny Tai and Power for Democracy convenor Andrew Chiu. Photo: Nora Tam

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Police vehicles stationed on section of flyover where pellet is thought to have been fired and more than 100 police patrol around West Kowloon Court
Prosecution outlines allegedly offensive conduct and statements made by some of accused, including ex-lawmakers Lam Cheuk-ting and ‘Long Hair’ Leung Kwok-hung


Police vehicles stationed on section of flyover where pellet is thought to have been fired and more than 100 police patrol around West Kowloon Court.


Crime

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong national security law (NSL)

Legislative Council of Hong Kong